About Open Column
Open Column is a youth-led publication for serious teen journalism. We publish reported stories, sharp opinion, and deeply observed features written by and for teens who care about how the world works.
Mission
Teen voices matter , and this is where they’re heard.
Our mission is to give young reporters, critics, and essayists a credible platform to investigate, explain, and challenge the world around them. Open Column exists so that teens can do real journalism for a real audience; be edited, trusted, and taken seriously.
What is Open Column?
Open Column is an editorially run, youth-led publication that publishes teen journalism across multiple sections. Our writers report, analyze, and tell stories with the same seriousness you’d expect from any newsroom, just from a teen perspective.
What we publish
Journalism (News & Reporting): On-the-ground coverage, explainers, and issue-driven reporting.
Opinion (Essays & Commentary): Clear, argued points of view backed by evidence and lived experience.
Culture (Arts, Entertainment, Lifestyle): Reviews, cultural criticism, and stories about how teens actually live, watch, read, and listen.
Plus more
Business (Economics, Entrepreneurship, Markets): Reporting and analysis on money, work, and how power moves.
Science (STEM & Discovery): Pieces that make research, innovation, and science news understandable and relevant to teen readers.
Features (Profiles & Narrative): In-depth stories that follow people, questions, and ideas over time.
Across every section, the differentiator is simple: all of our work is written by teens and for teens, offering honest, peer perspectives on topics that actually matter to young people.
Why we exist
Most coverage about teens is written without us. Open Column flips that. We believe that young people are not just “the future” of journalism—we are part of it right now. When teens investigate their schools, communities, and online lives, they notice details and dynamics that adults often miss.
We exist to create a space where ambitious teen writers can practice real reporting, refine their voice, and be edited like professionals, all while building a community of peers who care about facts, nuance, and story.
Editorial standards
Open Column is not a class assignment or a club newsletter. We hold our writers to clear editorial standards designed to build trust with readers and respect the people we cover.
Accuracy comes first. We expect careful reporting, verification of facts, and clear sourcing. If we get something wrong, we correct it.
Original work only. Every piece must be the writer’s own work. We do not accept AI-written drafts or plagiarism of any kind.
Ethical reporting. We consider privacy, consent, and potential harm when we interview, quote, or describe real people.
Serious editing. Every accepted piece is edited for clarity, structure, sourcing, and fairness. Writers receive feedback and revise before publication.
Respectful discourse. Opinion pieces can be sharp, but they should also be thoughtful, grounded in evidence, and respectful of the communities they discuss.
Accessible journalism. We aim for clear, engaging writing that invites teen readers into complex topics without talking down to them.
Submit your writing
If you are a teen writer with a story to tell, a question to investigate, or a perspective you rarely see represented, we want to read your work. You do not need prior publishing experience, just curiosity, effort, and a commitment to honest journalism.
